Supply and discharge mechanism for water closet tanks



J. S. CANDEE Dec. 18, 1934.

SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS Filed Deo. 22,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 18, 1934. J. s. CANDEE 1,984,394

SUPPLY AND DISCHARGE MECHANISM FOR WATER CLOSET TANKS Filed Dec. 22,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AT-TCRNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1934v UNITEDSTATES:

vSUPPLYAND lmsoimRGE MECHANISMy Fortl y WATER cLosirr.TANKSv t JosephS.-Candee, Buffalo,v N. Y.; assigncr to f Catherine T. Candee, Buffalo,N. Y.

t applicati@Decemlw.22,1932, SerialNo.64s,s93

v3 Claims.

This invention relates to a supply and discharge mechanism for water'closet tanks. -f

`The mechanisms for this purpose as heretofore constructed usuallycontained a. .valve which was 5 opened to permit .the water in the tanktoow through the outlet thereof to the closet bowl, which constructionis objectionable inasmuch as the `ioint between theclosing member andseat of such a valve becomes' wornv in time and causes leakage whichnecessitates renewal or repairing of this valve in order kto restore thesame toits proper working condition; 1

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a supply anddischarge mechanism for water closet tanks in which no valve is employedin the outlet of the water tank `whereby theY possibility of leakage isabsolutely avoided and no repairs on this account are required. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide improved means forfopening thestopper or closure member of the valve whereby the supply of water tothe tank is controlled so thatr this valve is opened more rapidly andsupplies the necessary ejector jet for starting ar siphonic. actionwhereby the water is withdrawn from the tank for flushing the closet andalso the necessary water for refilling thetank after the same has beenemptied by a flushing action.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a water closet tankequipped with my improved supply and discharge mechanism and showing theparts in the position which they occupy when the inlet valve is closed.

Figure 2 is a'fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the partsin the position which they occupy when the tank is being emptied ofwater.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary verticaltran'sverse section, taken on line3*-3 Fig. l. l 40 Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section,

taken on line 4-.4 Fig. 1.r I Y Figure 5 isa fragmentary verticalsection, on an enlarged scale, showing `the manner in which the trip dogof the trip lever cooperates with the catch of the latch device whichcontrols the relative position of the sections of thefloat lever wherebythe water inletvalveis actuated.`

Figure 6 isa fragmentary side` elevation showing .a modified form of thesectional oat lever and the latch or lockingV device whereby thesections of this lever may be either locked in an un folded positionrelative to each other or permitted to fold one sectionrelatively to theother, this figure showing the locking device in ,a posi'- tion inAwhich these `sections are locked against relative movement. y y u tFigure 7 is a similar view showing the latch or locking device in aposition in which the two sections of the iioat lever are permitted tofold one relatively to the other. f i

Similar charactersk of reference indicate, like parts in the severalfigures of the drawings:

The numeral -10 represents the tank or reservoir of a water closet whichis adapted to receive water from any suitable source and deliver thesame toabowl for iiushing the latter. The water for this purpose ispreferably supplied to this tank by means of a supply pipe l1 which inthe present case extends upwardly through the bottom thereof andterminates at its `upper end within the tank where the same is providedwith a port`12 constituting` the water inlet for the tank'. Surroundingthis inlet portthe supply pipe 11 is provided with an upwardly facingvalve 'seat 13. l

The discharge of water from this pipe into the tank is controlled by aregulating valve having a stopper'or closure member llkwhichismovabledownwardly into engagement with the-seat 13 for the purpose of closingthe port 12, and also upwardly away from this kseat for uncovering theport- 12 and permitting the water which is supplied under pressure tothepipe 11 to flow into the tank. I

This valve is provided on its upper iside with a valve stem 15 which isguided in the upper part of the valve chamber 16 which encloses theregulating valve-and communicates with the upper end ofthe pipe 11through the medium of the port 12. l

Opening and closing of this stopper or closure memberis effected by anoperating mechanism which in the present case comprises a horizontaloperating lever `17 passing with its central part through a loop 18extending upwardly from the i top ofthe valve stem 15 and pivoted to theupper verse pivot or hinge pin 22. The inner orrear n section 20 of thisoat lever is pivoted by means of arhorizontal transverse pin 23 on theupper part of the valve chamber 16 on that side of the axis ci theregulating valve opposite to the pivot pin 19,*and this section of thefloatlever is pro:`

vided with a short arm 24 projecting from the opposite side of the pivotpin 23 and pivotally connected by means of a link 25 with the outer endof the operating lever 17.

On its outer end the outer section 21 of the float lever is providedwith a float 26 which is adapted to ride upon the surface of the waterwithin the tank. As this float lever is swung upwardly due to thebuoyancy of the float 26 which is raised by the level of the waterrising in the tank the arm 24 forming a part of this float leverdescends and causes the operating lever 17 to be depressed and thestopper `or closure 14 of the regulating valve to be pushed downwardlyinto engagement with the seat 1'3,`thereby shutting off the furtherinward flow of waterv from the supply pipe 11 into the tank..k Thisoccurs when the level of the water in the tank has reached thepredetermined or normal level which is desired to be maintained inthetank preparatory to discharging a batch of water therefrom for flushingthe bowl, as shown in Fig. 1.

As the water from the tank is discharged to the bowl the float leverdescends due to the lowering of the level of the water therein therebycausing the arm 24 connected with the float lever to raise the operatinglever 17, whereby the stopper or closure 14 of the regulating valve islifted from the seat 13, aided by the pressure of the water against theunderside of this stopper, whereby the inlet port 12 is uncovered, asshown in Fig. 2, and water from the supply pipe 11 is permitted to flowinto the tank.

For the purpose of enabling the float lever to open the regulating valvequickly and independently of the descent of the float 26 with the levelof the water as the latter is discharged from the tank but to graduallyclose this regulating valve again during the subsequent operation ofrefilling the tank, and also to cause this regulating valve to operateeffectively in conjunction with the means whereby the water isdischarged from the tank, latching or locking means are provided wherebythe two sections of the float lever are maintained in an unfoldedposition relatively to each other during the upward swinging movement ofthis float lever while the regulating valve is being closed, but whichwill permit the two sections of this oating lever to fold upwardlyrelatively to each other and thereby enable the regulating valve to openquickly for cooperation with the water discharge device of the tank,notwithstanding that the oat descends at a slower rate with thedescending level of the water as it is discharged from the tank.

The latching means for this purpose which are shown in` Figs. 1, 2 and 5are constructed as follows:

The numeral 27 represents a dog, pawl or catch pivoted at one end bymeans of a horizontaltransverse pin 28 on a lug 29 projecting upwardlyfrom the front or outer arm of the float lever adjacent to the hinge pin22 while the opposite end of this dog is adapted to engage with aforwardly facing shoulder 30 formed on the upper side of the othersection 20 of the floating lever adjacent to said hinge pin. Variousmeans may be provided for disengaging this dog 27 from the shoulder 30,those shown in the drawings including a trip lever 3l pivoted by meansof a horizontal transverse pin 32 on a bracket 33 secured to the frontwall of the tank 4and provided at its frontend with a releasing dog orp'awl 34 which is adapted'to engage with a lifting orreleasing pin 35 onone side of the dog 27. T'Ihe releasing dog 34 is pivoted by means of ahorizontal transverse pin 36 to the outer end of the trip lever 31 andis provided with a stop heel 37 which is adapted to engage with a stopshoulder 38 on the adjacent part of the trip lever. While the floatlever is in its elevated position the locking latch or dog 27 engageswith the shoulder 30 and holds the two sections of the float lever inanv unfolded or straightened position, thereby causing the buoyancy ofthe float 27 riding on the water level to shift the stopper or closure14 of the regulating valve into its closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.At this time the releasing dog 34 is arranged in a straightened orunfolded position relative to the trip lever 31 and engages its stopheel 37 with the shoulder 38 of this lever while` its free front end isarranged be- `low the trip pin 35 of the latch or dog 27, as

shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 5.

Upon now raising the trip lever 31 the trip dog 34 will engage with theunderside of the trip pin 35 and raise kthe dog 27 out of engagementfrom the shoulder 30, and when this occurs the weight of the twosections of the float lever will cause the same to drop quickly into aposition in which these two lever sections will fold relatively to eachother into a V shape or upwardly diverging relation, as shown in Fig. 2.This dropping of the sections of the float lever will cause theoperating lever 17 to be raised, together with the stopper of theregulating valve, thereby uncovering the inlet port 12 and permittingwater to flow from the supply pipe 11 into the tank. During thesubsequent lowering of the water level in the tank as the same isdischarged through the outlet of the latter for the purpose of flushingthe bowl, the

float 26 descends and carries the front section 21 of the float leverinto an unfolded or straightened position with reference to the rearsection 20 whereby the locking dog or pawl 27 is carried outwardly andits free end is again caused to automatically engage by gravity with theshoulder 30 of the rear section of the float lever. As the water levelin the tank again rises due to the admission of water which is suppliedthrough the pipe 1l, this float lever rises in a straightened position,this lever at this time being raised by buoy action of the float 26which rides on the surface of the water.

After the trip lever 31 has been raised for the purpose of disengagingthe locking latch or dog 27 from the shoulder 30 the same is permittedto again assume the position shown in Fig. l, and as the float leverrises in response to the rising level of the water in the tank, the trippin 35 engages with the underside of the trip dog 34 and lifts thelatter from the position shown by full lines in Fig. 5 to the foldedposition shown by dotted lines in the same figure, and after this trippin has passed upwardly far enough to clear the dog 34, the latter againdrops by gravity into its lowered or straightened position so that itextends underneath the trip pin 35 where it is now held by gravity withits stop tail 37 resting against the shoulder 38 on the trip lever, asshown by full lines in Fig. 5.

Various means may be employed for raising and lowering the trip lever3l, those shown in the drawings being satisfactory for this purpose andcomprising a rock shaft 39 journaled in the bracket 31 and extendingthrough the front wall of the tank, a handle 40 arranged on the frontend of the rock shaft 39 and adapted to be manually operated, and a link41 connecting a rock arm 42 on the inner end of the rock shaft 39 with adownwardly projecting rock arm 43 on the inner Iend Aoffthetrip lever31, as shown! in FigsJl and 2. Y By thismeans, av rocking movementimparted tor ,the handle 40,wi11 causethe trip f lever to be raised andlowered for the' purpose` of causing the releasing dog 34r to liftVthelockingvla'tch or dog 27 out of engagement from the'sh'oulderv 30 andalso permitting this `releasing dog to again assume a position below thetrip pin 35 in the manner heretofore described.

If desired, the means for locking thesections of the float lever in astraightened or-unfolded position and permitting these lever sections tofold relatively tof eachother, may be constructed as shown in Figs. Sand'7; In this modified form of thelocking and releasingmechanisin thefront section- 21.1 of the float lever is provided'withan upwardlyprojecting shank-44', and the'rearsection 201 of thisiloat leverE isprovidedf with a v,downwardly projecting shank '45,*whichl Shanks arepivotally connected with eachother by means of a hinge or pivot pin 46extending horizontally fand transversely through theseshanks. i

The numeral'fil represents a vlocking vsleeve or latch whichfisadapted'tokk slide vertically on fthe Shanks 44 and 45 into and outofaposition in which' it extendsacross the hinge jointbetween these Shanks;When this locking sleeveis in` its lowered position, as'v` shown in Fig.6, the same engages with both shanks44 and45 and extends across thepivotal connection between the same, and; rests with` its lower end onthe adjacent part of the front'section of the float lever, therebylocking the two lsections of 'the oat'leveriin an unfolded orstraightened position, Yandy rendering thesame practically' rigid. Uponraising this locking sleeve sothat the saine is arranged wholly on theverticalshank 454 of the rear iioat lever section 201 and above thehinge'pin- 46'v which pivotally connects these Shanks, the two'sectionsof thefloat lever are'permitted to yfold vupwardly into an angularposition relatively'tofeaoh other, as shown in Fig. '7.v When thefrontsec'tion 2111 of the iloat lever is again movedl downwardly into anunfolded orstraightened position `'relative to the rear section 201due-to the dropping of the float 261 in responseEto-thf-J,'loweringfofthe Water level, then the locking sleevev4'1,dropsby gravity across ,the-'hinge pin and' into; engag'e'- mentwith the lower shank 44E-ofthe-front'section 211 ofthe floaty lever,thereby operating o again lock the two float lever sectionsinals'i'iifaig tened or unfolded position, and cause them to rise nin thisstraightened position with'the respective-float 261 as the tank isagainY filled with water.V l

Disengagement of the lockingsleeve`A 47l from the lower shank 44 iseiectedby means of" afreleasing dog 341 which vis mounted on the outerendA of a trip lever 311 rwhich is the equivalent of the previouslydescribed trip lever 31. vIn the ele'- vated position of the float leversections 201, 211 the trip dog 341 is arranged below a shoulder35l onthe locking sleeve 47, and upon raising the trip lever 311 this dog 341engageswith the shoul- 'der 351 and shifts the lockingI sleeve 47 fromthe position shown in Fig; 6 to the position shown inFig.'7. v

During the subsequent downward movement of the trip lever 311 relativetothe lockingsleeve 47 the releasing dog 341 trips past the shoulder 351and assumes a folded position until it has cleared athis shoulder 351,after which the dog341 again straightens out andassumesva position'belowsaid shoulder. This function of the releasing dog 341 is permitted bypivoting its inner end tothe free end of the` trip lever by meansofapindland' yie1din'g1y'lhc'iding this dogfin this' position-by means ofa spring 48`securedY to theiront end of the levei3l1- and engaging with`a 'heel 49 onf'the inner end of the dog'341," as shown in Figsand 7.

" The, numeral -50 represents the discharge' pipe i.

whereby'the wateris delivered.' from the tankA to the closet bowl whichis to be flushed; this ypipe being connected with ythe bottom of thetank in any suitable and well-known manner, so thatv its upper end whichVopens into the lower part ofthe rtank forms the outletof the tank;Arranged withinthe `tank and communicating with the interior thereof`and the outlet or discharge piper 50-1isa Siphon which forms part of,rthe `means fordischarging the'waterffrom the vtank to the closet. In'its preferred form this Siphon comprises a downtake dischargeleg 51which isarranged vertically withinfthe tank and connected at its lower Aendwith the upper end of the outlet pipe 50, an

uptake ejector leg 52 arranged verticallfyalong side of the downtakeleg51 and communicating atits upper endfwith the upper end of the downtakeleg and opening'at its lower end vinto the lower part ofthe tank, and anuptake suction leg 53 arranged vertically' adjacentfto 'the` uptakeejector leg 5,2 'and opening at its lower endiinto the'lower part ofthetank slightly above the lower end of the ejector leg, `while itsupperend cornmunicates'with the upper partrofthe ejector leg at a point`below the k'point of connection between the` upper end of the ejectorleg 52 andthe ydischarge leg 51. Above'the upper end of ftheejec-g torleg 52 the siphon is provided with an upwardly extending pooket'54 whichis arranged-f above the point of communication between-`the`upper endsof the ejectormleg andthe discharge leg.

Projectingupwardly into the lower rend of the 'ejector'leg isan ejectornozzle 55" by means of which a je'tof water is ydirected upwardly-intothe ejector leg of the si'phonfor the purpose of starting the Siphon andcausing the same to withn ter, and thisibridge.isffastenedftdth'elowerend of theeject'or' leg byrneansJo'fffarlugr 57j on one end ofltliebrdge engaging withronesid'e ofthe ejectorlegf '52;r and aclampingscrew rnounted on the bridge and engaging with-'the opposite side of`this legJas shownliniigs.' 1 a'nd4.` f, j f

AWater,isfsupplied to this ejector'f'nozzle by means :oigan intermediaterpipe 59 connected at itsloiirerV end with this nozzle while it'svupperend is connected with the valve 'chamber 16 on one side of theregulating valvaas shown in Figs. 1- and 3Q Assuming that theftank isfilled Iwater andv the, regulating valve and its operating'me'cha'- nismare in the positionl indicated in l'ig.y 1 'so as toshut off further`entranceo'iwater from the supply pipe 1 1 intoY the tankfthe `operationtif-flushing, a closet bowl is asf'ollowszfa c, The operator turnsthehandle 40 from the position shown in Fig.`1 to the position shown inFig. 2 whereby the releasing-for t1'ip`.dog` 34 will disengage thevlockinglatch or dog- 2"1,v from the shoulder 30, thereby pernfiitting--the ytwo vsections of. the -fioat leverto ldrop into a folded positionand cause the regulating valve closure-14y to be lifted and permit they110W of water from the supply pipe 1:1 to theejector nozzley 55. ,.1 v.f IThe rjet ot water which now issues -fromvthe nozzle is directedupwardly into the. bodygoffiwa ter contained within the ejector pipe orleg of the siphon whereby this body, together with the water supplied bythe ejector, causes the column of water in this leg to be raised andoverflow from the upper end of the ejector leg into the downtakedischarge leg of the siphon. The instant that suflcient water has beenthus transferred from the uptake ejector leg into the downtake dischargeleg so that the latter is completely filled, a siphonic action will beproduced whereby the greater weight of the column of water in thedowntake leg will draw the water upwardly through both uptake legs ofthe siphon and discharge the water through the delivery pipe 50 to thecloset bowl. This siphonic action will continue until the water has beenwithdrawn from the tank to a point below the lower end of the uptakesuction leg or pipe 53 of the siphon, and when the level of the waterreaches this point the vacuum or suction eifect of the siphon will bebroken due to the admission of air at this time to the lower end of theuptake suction pipe.

The Water is withdrawn from the tank very rapidly by this siphonicaction but while such withdrawal of the water is taking place theregulating valve closure 14 remains in an open position due to thelowered position of the float 1ever at this time so that the nozzle 55continues to deliver a jet of Water upwardly into the ejector leg of thesiphon. After the level of the water has been lowered in the tank to apoint below the lower end of the suction leg 53 and the water-deliveringoperation of the siphon has been arrested, the upward jet of water fromthe nozzle 55 continues to function and deliver this jet of water intothe pocket 54 at the top of the ejector 4leg so that the same reboundstherefrom and forms a water mass in the upper part of the ejector leg,part of which ows over into the downtake leg 51 for partly filling thebowl after the ushing operation, while the bulk or larger part of thisrebounding mass of water which is directed downwardly from the pocket 54enters the upper end of the suction pipe 53 and ows downwardly throughthe latter and escapes from the lower end thereof into the tank so as togradually rell the latter with water.

During this operation of relling the tank some of the water suppliedthereto from the lower end of the ejector leg which is constantly incommunication with the lower part of the tank and therefore permits anywater under back pressure in the ejector leg to pass into the tank.

Due to the point of connection between the upper end of the ejector leg52 and the suction pipe 53 being lower than the point of connectionbetween the upper end of the ejector pipe and the downtake pipe 51, thewater which is lifted in the ejector pipe by the action of the jetissuing from the nozzle will practically all flow from the ejector pipeintothe suction pipe 53 and back into the tank instead of iiowing to anysubstantial extent from the ejector pipe into the downtake or dischargeleg, thereby causing the tank to be refilled very rapidly.

By arranging the lower end of the uptake suction pipe or leg 53 abovethe lower end of the uptake ejector leg 52 the breaking of the vacuumeffect in the Siphon is definitely located at the lower end of thesuction leg 53 and permits the lower end of the ejector leg to remainsubmerged in water so as to retain a suicient amount of water therein topermit of resuming the subsequent filling operation of the tank promptlyand without interruption at this point.

The operation of replenishing the suppy of water in the tank proceeds inthis manner until the level in the same has reached the predeterminednormal, at which time the oat has raised the float lever while thesections of the latter are in a straightened position as previouslydescribed, so as to cause the closure member 14 of the regulating orinlet valve to be closed and thereby stop the further admission of Waterinto the tank.

By this means of withdrawing the water from the tank and discharging thesame into the bowl, no discharge valve is employed for controlling theoutlet of the tank and instead a permanent connection is maintainedbetween the Siphon and the outlet pipe, thereby avoiding theobjectionable leakage which occurs in the use of outlet valves whichhave heretofore been employed for this purpose and which requiredperiodical repairing as well as undue expense for maintaining the samein operative position. The present improvement requires no attentionafter once being installed inasmuch as there are no working parts whichare liable to get out of order and therefore not only avoids theannoyance incident to the use of outlet vaves or joints and thepossibility of leaky joints, but also effecting a substantial saving inthe cost of maintaining the closet in a satisfactory condition.

Inasmuch as the water pressure which is supplied to the tank varies indifferent localities it may be necessary to supply water for refillingthe tank by means which supplement the water which is supplied by meansof the nozzle in order to speed up the refilling operation. For thispurpose an auxiliary refilling pipe 60 is provided which communicates atits upper end with the water supply valve chamber 16 and opens at itslower end into the upper part of the tank so that when the supply orregulating valve closure 14 is opened some of the Water will be suppliedby the pipe 59 to the ejector nozzle 55 for causing the siphon tooperate and also to supply water for subsequently filling the tank, andsome of the water will also be discharged by the supplemental fillingpipe 60 into the tank independently of the nozzle so that between thesesources of water supply the tank will be promptly relilled.

In order to permit of varying the amount of water which is supplied tothe tank by means of this supplemental filling pipe 60, adjusting meansare provided which in effect constitute a valve and which in the presentinstance consist of an adjusting valve screw 61 having threadedengagement with the upper part of an angle tting 62 connecting the pipe60 with the valve casing 16, as shown in Fig. 3. Upon adjusting thisvalve screw so that its inner end extends more or less across the pathof the stream of water passing from the valve casing 16 to the pipe 60the amount of water delivered through this pipe may be varied to suitthe pressure under which water is supplied in the particular locality.

I claim as my invention:

1. A supply and discharge mechanism for a water closet tank having awater inlet and a water outlet, comprising a siphon arranged within thetank and having a downtake discharge leg communicating at its lower endwith said outlet, an uptake ejector leg communicating at its upper endwith the upper end of said downtake leg and opening at its lower endinto said tank, and an uptake suction and filling leg communicating atits upper end with said uptake ejector leg at a point below the point ofy communication between said uptake ejector leg and said downtake leg,and

a water ejector nozzle projecting upwardly into the lower end of saiduptake ejector leg and communicating with said water inlet, said suctionand filling leg serving to conduct water upwardly from the tank to saidejector leg during the rst operation of the ejector for producing asiphonic discharge of the water from the tank and said suction andfilling leg also serving to conduct water downwardly from the ejectorleg to the tank for relling the latter solely by the ejector during thelast operation of the same.

2. A supply and discharge mechanism for a water closet tank having awater inlet and a water outlet, comprising a Siphon arranged within thetank and having a downtake discharge leg communicating at its lower endwith said outlet, a comparatively long uptake ejector leg communicatingat its upper end with the upper end of said downtake leg and opening atits lower end into said tank, and a comparatively short uptake suctionand filling leg communicating at its upper end with said uptake ejectorleg at a point below j the point of communication between said uptakeejector leg and said downtake leg, a water ejector nozzle projectingupwardly into the lower end of said uptake ejector leg and communicatingwith said water inlet, and a oat controlled valve arranged in theconduit between said water inlet and said water ejector nozzle, saidsuction and filling leg serving to conduct water upwardly from forrelling the latter solely by the ejector during the last operation ofthe same. l

3. A water supply and discharge mechanism for a closet tank having awater inlet and a water outlet comprising a siphon arranged within thetank and having a vertical downtake discharge leg communicating at itslower end with said Y outlet, a comparatively long vertical uptakeejector leg arranged parallel with said downtake leg and communicatingat its upper end with the upper end of said downtake leg and opening atits lower end into the lower part of the tank, and an upright combinedfilling and suction leg having its lower end opening into the lower partof the tank', a vertical ejector nozzle arranged centrally within thelower end of the ejector leg and adapted to lift the water therein forrst lling downtake leg with water to produce a siphon action `whichwithdraws water from the tank through the suction and lling leg and thendelivers water through said suction and filling leg into the tank forrefilling the latter, and a valve mechanism for controlling the supplyof water to said ejector nozzle.

JOSEPH S. CANDEE.

